Crisis Looms In Nigerian Bar Association As Treasurer Disowns Financial Statements, Accuses President Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau Of Highhandedness

Crisis appears to be brewing in the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) after the National Treasurer, Caroline Anze-Bishop, disowned the union’s financial statements drafted in her own name during the annual general meeting.

In a video seen by SaharaReporters, the treasurer accused President Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, claiming that her office was sidelined in the financial affairs of the association.

Caroline who was seen addressing crowd of lawyers at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the NBA which took place in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday, refused to read to the financial statements because she denied known the true financial situation of the organisation.

She said, “Without my knowledge, without my involvement in anyway. And I have complaints severally. On the 15th day of August, 2023 at the national executive meeting, with every national officers sited there. The president brought out a sleged hammer on me and said he does not require to consult or get the consent of my office to be able to run the financial affairs of this association. He said that in an excos meeting. I therefore think that is the path he has decided to take respectfully.

“Then I am now the fit and proper person to stand before you and sign any financial document or stand here and give you a financial report. The NBA treasurer is not a member of TTCP. The NBA treasurer is not a member of the stabilisation committee or any committee that is with the finances of the organisation. How do I do my job? He mentioned memos that are not drafted through my offices.

“They were drafted through the offices of the secretary and the president approved. And I have severally mentioned the president in his wisdom, I want to believe, decided to put an apostrophe and made sure that memos are rooted to the secretary to the treasurer as if the office of treasurer is a subsidi of the office of… the president. I was elected by you all and I promised under oath to do my best and give you the best. Should you give me a further platform,

“I will serve you. I will do so truthfully. It doesn’t align with my conscience to stand here and tell you that this is the financial position. It may be but I do not know because I wasn’t involved. I was not informed. It was not put together by me and I will not be disrespectful by standing to give you unknown figures because I don’t know the true financial position of this association.”